Women may wonder whether exercise is safe and about
how much weight to gain when pregnant.

Pregnancy is a time of change. Some women think about making changes to their eating and physical activity habits when they are pregnant. It’s a great time to eat healthfully and be active most days.

You can eat more healthfully and be more active by making healthy eating and active living family priorities, listening to your body, planning ahead, and making healthy choices.

Use this time to make healthy eating and active living a life-long habit for you, your baby, and your family.

Some women report that making lifestyle changes can be challenging for a variety of reasons. Some women report that lack of time, other commitments, lack of money, and that lack of support from their partner, family, or friends make it hard to change. Click on the links below for ideas on overcoming these roadblocks and for information about healthy weight, healthful eating, and physical activity during pregnancy.

Click on the links below to read more information on weight, healthy eating, physical activity when pregnant.

Is it true I can
eat for "two"?
Should I exercise? How much weight
should I gain?

Additional Resources:
The BC Perinatal Health Program: http://www.bcphp.ca/

Baby’s Best Chance: pick up a free copy at your local health unit. Or, online at http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/library/publications/year/2005/babybestchance.pdf

Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide and My Food Guide: online at www.healthcanada.gc.ca/foodguide. Or call 1-800-O-Canada for a free copy.

HealthLINK BC website: http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/searchhealth.stm. Or call no charge 8-1-1. TTY (Deaf and hearing-impaired) call 7-1-1.

Dietitian Services at HealthLinkBC: free nutrition information at www.dialadietitian.org or call 8-1-1 no charge in BC to speak with a registered dietitian between 9am to 5pm weekdays.  TTY (Deaf and hearing-impaired) call 7-1-1.

ActNow BC website: www.ActNowBC.ca

Healthy Canadians Website: http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca/hp-gs/index_e.html

The Exercise & Pregnancy Helpline: toll free 1-866-937-7678.

Pregnancy Outreach Programs (POPs) provide prenatal and early parenting support to women who experience health or lifestyle challenges during pregnancy, birth and the transition to parenting. To find out if there is a POP near you, contact the Public Health Nurse at the Public Health Unit in your community or go to http://www.bcapop.ca/

Quitnow: www.quitnow.ca or call 1-877-455-2233 for free, confidential, no-pressure counselling and support from trained specialists.

Recipes:
Dietitians of Canada’s Eat Well Live Well: http://www.dietitians.ca/public/content/eat_well_live_well/english/cookbooks/simplygreatfood.asp

Dietitians of Canada’s Healthy Lunches to Go: http://www.dietitians.ca/HLTG/HLTG_web/content/english/health_lunches.aspx

Heart & Stroke Foundation: http://www.heartandstroke.com/site/c.ikIQLcMWJtE/b.3484019/k.C5C8/Recipes.htm

Cooking Skills:
Canada’s Food Guide on-line: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/using-utiliser/plan-eng.php

Dietitians of Canada’s Eat Well Live Well: http://www.dietitians.ca/public/content/eat_well_live_well/english/cookbooks/simplygreatfood.asp

Fresh Choice Kitchens: http://www.communitykitchens.ca/main/?home





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